GILFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
MINUTES OF June 12, 2007
PRESENT: Katherine Dormody, Polly Sanfacon, Bill Seed, Tracey Petrozzi, Robert Kammeraad, Kate Hamel (The Friends) and Daryl Thompson..
MINUTES: The minutes of May 2007 were accepted as written.
REPORTS: The monthly reports were reviewed. There were twenty-eight new borrowers in May. Tracey suggested we break down the new borrowers into categories, i.e., adults, children, whether they are whole families. Katherine said this was possible. Circulation is up about 10 percent over last year- the largest circulation we’ve ever seen in May. We continue the trend of having over 7000 check-outs a month. Books are still the number one item taken out. Volunteer hours are also way up-over 325 hours. The register report was reviewed and there were no questions.
PROGRAMS: Katherine noted that there are many children’s activities coming up due to the summer reading program, which starts June 25th. The theme this summer is Reading Road Trip USA. Live animals are coming on that day -Road Trip to the Zoo- which is being sponsored by the Friends. The summer reading booklets are still a work-in-progress, but will be ready for the start of the program. Our new children’s librarian is very capable and enthusiastic, but the transition is difficult at this busy time of year.
Simon Brooks, a storyteller, is coming to talk to the day-camp students at the Gilford Elementary School on the 28th – trying to capture the day- mainly for our preschoolers and K through 3rd graders. Other programs include singer Steve Blunt at the bandstand, a Hogwarts Party, Bugs Across America, and a Puppet Show.
We are also offering some programs for the middle-schoolers –such as a scavenger hunt called Geo-caching, using GPS equipment. Mike Murphy has 12 GPSes for the kids. Dan Tinkham (a geologist) is leading a summer hike for families. Bill suggested mentioning the Persons Farm as a choice for a beautiful hike-- as well as good publicity.
The Currier on the Move program starts this week; a docent is coming here from the Currier Museum in Manchester, to talk about women artists. Book discussions, foreign movie nights and the teen reading buffets continue. The Knit-Wits also continue meeting on Friday afternoons. The Book Fair will begin on Saturday, the 28th of July, and continue on Monday.
LIBRARY PROJECT: The Groundbreaking ceremony went very smoothly and was well-attended. The speakers were excellent. The local newspapers were all there, resulting in good publicity. Kate reported that a lot happened behind the scenes. Hayden McLaughlin offered the tents, and he also mowed the lawn for the event. Also, Kate had contacted a Wolfeboro company, and they donated the library logo coasters; they also have a website - CafePress.com- where we can order other library products. We can add a three-dollar mark-up to the products we order, and the check will come directly to the Friends. This company has also recommended a graphic company to help with our calendars next year; we will be able to take orders and then order them directly from Details.
BUILDING UPDATE: Bill announced we should be able to break ground in mid-July. A very beneficial meeting was held with Sheldon Morgan, regarding landscaping and plowing issues, where a lot was brought to the table. Bill noted that Jack Lacombe has the engineering expertise to ask the right questions on such issues as parking, drainage, etc., and he often offers some better ideas. Soundproofing issues have also been discussed. We should be getting some real numbers soon. Bill is confident they will be within the budget. He did say the landscaping budget was higher than expected.
The main house is under agreement to be sold to the neighbors across the street. They hope to put in a foundation next month, and they face a deadline of July 10th to move the building. Saving this historic house makes many people in town very happy.
The contents of the house are being sold to help pay for shelving and such at the library. All the landscaping around the house, including the maple trees, may be up for discussion as well. The rental items previously stored in the lower building have been removed, and Katherine has asked that some of our storage items be moved over to the garage, specifically, the classics and duplicate books that are too good to discard. Katherine confirmed that right now our collection is looking very good; it has been weeded out -- there is no dead weight. Bill is looking for some pallets, which will get things off the floor.
All in all, Bill feels we’ve come a long way in a short period of time. He is predicting we will probably be in the new library no latter than March.
FUNDRAISING: We need to gear up now that groundbreaking is behind us. Kate and Katherine have finalized the list of the individuals to be asked, as well as businesses. We are still waiting to collect all the money previously pledged from the three groups-- the staff, the Friends, the trustees. We should be in full preparation to move forward in the next couple of weeks.
We have heard that a couple of our significant pledges may come in later than hoped. One will not start paying until 2009. A discussion followed on the best ways to go about asking. Robert especially showed great enthusiasm for going out to potential donors.
The Trustees were each given a packet of fundraising information, along with the compiled lists. Our job is to make comments and suggestions on the lists before the next meeting.
PERSONNEL: There have been some staff changes. Lisa has resigned; her last day is Friday. We should all drop in on Friday from 2 to 10 to say good-bye. Tracey is putting together a thank-you relaxation basket for Lisa, to show our appreciation for all her fine work. Barbara Mirabelli has been hired as our new children’s librarian. She is very well qualified; she has been a children’s librarian as well as a library administrator for 25 years. She has also been through two library projects. Katherine says she is very even keeled - the entire staff is enthusiastic about her arrival. In addition, Jessie has needed to go part-time due to illness. She is now at 27 hours. Katherine has hired Corey Nazer for 10 to 15 hours a week, to fill in for Jessie. He has a
very good interest in libraries; he’s finishing his practicum as a school library media specialist. Corey is a wonderful teacher at Gilford High School, very well-liked by all the kids. His is a “permanent part-time position” so the possibility exists that he will continue through the school year.
BEHAVORIAL POLICY: The Resource Officer came to talk to us about the behavioral problems we had been experiencing earlier this year. Fortunately, there haven’t been any problems in the last month. A discussion followed about the community needing a teen center. Bill suggested looking at the Triple Trouble Farm property, in Sawyer Meadows. Polly said we need to find a benefactor to build something on the land next to the new library. Katherine mentioned that the Church is incorporating a gym into their new building. We will keep in contact with the Resource Officer next year when school starts up again. He knows the kids- the ones causing trouble at the library are the same kids causing trouble at school. There is no easy answer.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10th at 8:30.
Respectfully submitted,
Daryl Thompson, Secretary
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